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WINDSOR – In just one year, a local film festival has nearly doubled in size.

The second annual Pecan Pickling Film Festival, slated for Sept. 13-15 at Bertie High School, attracted 122 submissions from throughout the nation. Last year, the Festival had 70 entries.

“We received an incredible 122 film submissions for this year’s festival. We are deeply grateful to all the filmmakers who chose our festival as the platform to showcase their work,” stated Patricia Ferguson, the Film Festival’s founder. “So, we need everyone to champion cinema not just as an art form, but as a very powerful engine to fuel economic development.”

As the popularity of the Festival grows, so does the number of TV and film personalities. Joining the lineup of guests this year are Nakia Dillard, D’Aja Fulmore and James Jones, Jr.

Dillard is known for his roles in iconic TV series like “The Wonder Years,” “Black Lightning,” and “The Wire,” and movies such as “Night Catches Us” and “BMF.”

On Saturday, Sept. 14, Dillard will be hosting a special workshop where attendees can learn from his experience in the industry.

Fulmore of Fulmore Films signed a major film deal with Homestead Entertainment, a Los Angeles and New York-based global distribution company. Fulmore’s feature length film “Crossover” was featured on Tubi, and she is now working on part two of the movie.

Jones of Bearhug Productions is a filmmaker, writer, director, and editor known for the award-winning film “Freedom of NC” and his latest project “Paydert: The Movie,” which premiered Aug. 3.

“Showcasing filmmakers from our region — Northeastern NC — truly enhances the Festival’s significance,” stressed Ferguson. “It’s not just about celebrating cinema, it’s about local and regional voices and stories that resonate deeply with our audience.

“And it’s about recognizing the vast economic opportunities that the film industry provides,” she added. “The film sector stimulates job creation, from production crews to marketing professionals, and fuels local economies through tourism. Every film project generates revenue, supporting local businesses and creating a ripple effect that benefits communities.”

The Festival opens on Friday, Sept. 13 with a ticket-only “Red Carpet” event at the Ag Center/Bertie Library meeting room in Windsor. That event (5:30-9:30 pm) will include special screenings of a handful of the selected films.

From there, the filmmakers and special guests will enjoy an after party hosted by the Bertie County Arts Council.

From the total number of entries, 37 have been selected to screen at the event. They will be shown between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 in different rooms at the high school. A tribute to North Carolina filmmakers follows from 6-8 p.m.

The event ends on Sunday, Sept. 15 with the prestigious Effie Awards ceremony at the high school from 1-3 p.m.

The events on Saturday and Sunday are open free of charge to the public.

The following films will screen on Saturday in the Short Drama category (8-to-15 minutes):

Boxed – a fictionalized short film based on the true story of the terrifying daring escape of Henry “Box” Brown, an enslaved man in 1849 who used creativity to escape.

Speak – faced with a crippling anxiety, a young woman overcomes her fear only by confronting her greatest enemy.

The Faint Goodbye – an experience of two women and past lovers seeing each other years after their break-up.

Union Avenue – a social worker and an infamous police officer have to settle their differences and work as a team to make it through the night.

1221 – a tribute to a time of overwhelming isolation and uncertainty, but also of unprecedented community presence.

Dead Air – shortly after receiving a vintage radio as a birthday gift from her husband, Julie begins to hear mysterious coded messages.

Price of Freedom – a mother, convicted of a crime she did not commit, makes a last resort attempt at freedom. But that decision comes at a cost.

The following films will screen on Saturday in the Short Drama category (15-to-25 minutes):

Terri – no information submitted

The Chronocular Device – a shadowy figure, upon breaking into an abandoned home, finds a strange device which allows him a glimpse into the home’s past.

Darcine’s Day – spend the day with Darcine Thomas (Kyla Diane Kennedy), divorced and jobless, as she strives to thrive, and survive, in post-pandemic Los Angeles.

Rites of Passage – two brothers in the middle of a fight get trapped in a mysterious elevator that reveals to them blood has nothing to do with family.

Happy Prank Day – a famous prankster plans a prank on his party guests, hiring his intern to rob the guests.

The following films will screen on Saturday in the Short Drama category (25-to-60 minutes):

How the Waves Were Won – the ocean can be a scary place, but ocean lifesavers stand watch as guardians of our beaches.

Hotline – JaMarcus Atkins (Gino Terrell) doesn’t get the job. His team didn’t cover the spread. A mystery man (Mario Terrell II) is now on his trail.

The Taking of Harris Neck – a story of trauma and racism and the perseverance to overcome against all odds.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Feature Drama category (60+ minutes):

Apocalypse Love Story – After losing her father during an undisclosed apocalyptic event that wipes out all of humanity, Samantha finds an abandoned military base where she lives in complete solitude until meeting an 8-year-old boy.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Documentary Short category (5-to-8 minutes):

Dear Daughter – a mother’s tribute to her daughter, and a reflection on how the love for her evolved throughout the years.

The following films will screen on Saturday in the Documentary Short category (8-15 minutes):

LA Rises – a detailed and artistic approach to the protests in Los Angeles after George Floyd’s death.

Act As If – a documentary highlighting family, veteran, and youth homelessness challenges, and the life-changing impact of the Illumination Foundation’s aid.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Documentary Short category (15-25 minutes):

Pete’s Castle – a day-in-the-life examination of Pete Kelley, creator of Kelley Castle in Tomahawk, Wisconsin.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Documentary Short category (25-60 minutes):

Now & Then – a film proves that there is more to the story, which once again tackles life, love, tragedy, redemption, family, bizarre twists of fate, aging and the mundane absurdities of life in the 21st century.

The following films will screen on Saturday in the Documentary Feature category (60+ minutes):

Remember Me Dementia – examines the disparities through personal stories from dementia patients, caregivers, and dementia experts who discuss everything from the alarming statistics to African Americans’ mistrust of the medical community to resources to reverse the current trends.

Beyond the Shoreline of Channel of Bones – rising from the depths of addiction, ultra swimmer Steve Leitch embarks on an extra human journey to some of the most dangerous and beautiful locations in the world.

Art is Culture, Culture is Art – one man changes the way a small ranch town fits into the world by developing a “new” way art is experienced through color and fashion.

HBCU Sports Life – delves into the lives of CAU student-athletes, uncovering the struggles and triumphs that shape their identities and futures through sports.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Comedy Short category (8-to-15 minutes):

Foot the Bill – a historically black restaurant has been seized by white ownership. Meanwhile, two financially struggling friends argue over who should pay the bill.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Feature Comedy category (60+ minutes):

Goons, Guns & the Gumshoe – an old-fashioned private detective is hired to find a missing woman, and comes across a wild, strange collection of characters.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Feature Drama/Suspense category:

Paydert – when the Nobles family relocates to North Carolina, they will encounter inexplicable occurrences as they settle into a former plantation and learn the true history of its ancestral occupants.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Documentary Feature category:

20/20 Year of the Nurse – a documentary about Black nurses and practitioners in Virginia, New York, and other cities across the country.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Family Film category:

A Second Chance – three teen girls, all from single parent homes and from the wrong side of the tracks, commit numerous crimes against an elderly woman. But when they face a tough family court judge, their punishment doesn’t seem to fit their crimes.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Student Film category:

Faith of a Seed – After his mother dies in a car accident, a young man finds healing in ways he never could imagine. This film is directed by Timothy Lamont Thompson Jr. of Windsor.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Dramatic Thriller category:

The Box – when a woman accepts a mysterious package in the middle of the night, strange things begin to happen.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Documentary Short category:

Doc Sample: Barriers in Bertie – a film about a long tradition of people with limited power and resources making noticeable social change.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Dramatic Thriller category:

Jogger – a young woman going for a run in the countryside comes across strange older man whose cruel intentions lead to frightening consequences.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Grassroots Contributor category:

PTSD Misunderstood – directed by Melodie Poulson of Colerain, this film is about the founder of “A Mother’s Light of Love For All Branches” which is an advocate for PTSD.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Dramatic Short category:

A Dose of You – a mesmerizing short film that delves deep into the heart of the drug use epidemic with a twist you won’t see coming.

The following film will screen on Saturday in the Dramatic Faith-based Short category:

Lord So It For Me – a young man’s mother’s faith saves him from the tragedy of losing his life and helps him regain his perspective.

“The selection features a blend of films by both emerging and established filmmakers, making it an incredible mixture of artistic expression,” Ferguson noted. “Their work invites audiences to experience stories that are bold, and thought-provoking. It’s exciting to see fresh talent from Tier One communities like ours.

“On the other hand, the films from established filmmakers provide a sense of continuity and mastery in storytelling. They serve as mentors for emerging filmmakers bringing a wealth of experience with their polished productions that combine artistry with a strong emotional connection,” she closed.

For more information about the Festival, visit www.equity-films.org.